How to get to The Royal Yacht Britannia

An Edinburgh tram that is advertising Britannia. It is navy blue with a red strip along the bottom. There are white logos on it of Britannia, a ship. There are pink and red flowers in the foreground.

Looking for how to get to The Royal Yacht Britannia? Berthed at Ocean Terminal in Leith, Britannia is just two miles from Edinburgh’s city centre. Whether you're staying in the city centre or arriving from Edinburgh Airport, getting to Britannia is super simple. Here's our helpful guide! 

By Tram
Edinburgh Trams run from Edinburgh Airport through the city centre and down to Leith and is an easy 20-25 minute journey (depending on traffic). To visit Britannia, get off the tram at stop Ocean Terminal. There are three tram stops within the city centre, at Haymarket, Princes Street and Picardy Place (by John Lewis and the St James Quarter). 

Top tips for tram travel in Edinburgh:

  • Tickets must be purchased before travel.
  • Ticket machines are located on the platform:
    • No change is given.
    • Accepts coins: 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, and £2.
    • Accepts most debit and credit cards, including American Express.
  • For contactless, there are machines with a circular shape which you can tap your card/device against before the tram arrives to 'tap on', just remember when you disembark to tap the same card/device on the platform's validators again to 'tap off'.


By Car
Travel to Britannia by car, it’s just a 20-minute drive from the city centre.

  • Satnav postcode: EH6 6JJ
  • Follow signs for Edinburgh, Leith, or North Edinburgh. 
  •  Free multi-storey car park at Ocean Terminal:
    • Height restriction: 2 metres
    • Recommended parking levels: C or E (for direct access to the shopping centre)
    • No motorhome/caravan parking available.
By Bus
  •  Lothian Buses services from Edinburgh city centre to Ocean Terminal: 
    • Routes 10, 16, 34, and 35
    • Tickets can be purchased using contactless card payment or with cash using correct change as no change is given.
  • Regal Tour Bus:
    • Departs from Waterloo Place / St Andrew Square in Edinburgh city centre. 
    • Ideal for sightseeing along the way. 
    • Operated by Edinburgh Bus Tours. 


By Bike

  • Leave the car at home and explore using Edinburgh’s cycle lanes.
  • For a traffic-free experience, cycle along the Water of Leith.
  • Bike racks are available outside Ocean Terminal.
  • For bike hire, contact the Leith Cycle Company.
  • Edinburgh has a new trial cycle hire scheme operated by Voi, offering a convenient way to explore the city by bike. 

A group of cyclists are riding bikes in front of a pond a trees. Edinburgh Castle is in the background.

By Train

  • The closest train station is Edinburgh Waverley. Exit Waverley Train Station via the Princes Street entrance/exit and you can easily travel to Britannia at Ocean Terminal by tram, bus and taxi.


By Taxi

  • If arriving by taxi, ask the driver to drop you off outside Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre.
  • Enter through the main shopping centre entrance.
  • Follow signs to the Visitor Centre, located on the Second Floor within the centre. 


By Cruise Ship

  • If berthed in Leith:
    • The tour entrance is located inside Ocean Terminal.
    • Just a 5-minute walk from your cruise ship.
  • If arriving at Newhaven:
  • If berthed at South Queensferry:
    • Take a shuttle bus into Edinburgh city centre.
    • Then catch the tram to Ocean Terminal.
    • Alternatively, take a taxi which will cost approximately £35 and take 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic.

A large cruise ship is anchored in the Firth of Forth Edinburgh. The Forth Rail Bridge is in the foreground.

By Plane

  • Britannia is approximately 40 minutes' drive from Edinburgh Airport.
  • Lothian Bus service 17 travels directly from the airport to Britannia:
    • Tickets can be purchased from the driver via contactless card payment or cash using correct change.
  • Edinburgh Trams run between the airport and Ocean Terminal, taking approximately 55 minutes.
  • For more details on transport links, visit the Edinburgh Airport Guide. 


By Motorhome (not available)

  • There is no motorhome/caravan parking available due to a 2-metre height restriction in the Ocean Terminal multi-storey car park.


Image copyright: 
Marc Miller 
Edinburgh Trams
VisitScotland/Kenny Lam
VisitScotland/Grant Paterson

 

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